At BII, are proud to honor and celebrate the Black Business Owners in our portfolio for Black History Month! The present and former BII portfolio company leaders reflect the depth of talent across sectors that is present among Black businesses in Eastern Massachusetts. They range from food businesses to education technology startups, and construction companies to community centered nonprofits, among many others!
Learn More About BII’s Black Businesses
Joanna Smith-Griffin
Founder and CEO of AllHere, an AI-powered technology solution for K-12 schools to increase student participation in school, reduce the dropout rate, and build engagement.
Donald Donaldson
Founder and president of Beantown Builders, a general contracting firm that specializes in residential remodeling projects in the Greater Boston area.
Helen Adeosun
Co-founder and CEO of CareAcademy, an online education platform that provides caregivers with high-quality training to improve their skills and deliver the best care to older adults.
Donald Alexis
Community organizer and advocate for affordable housing in Mattapan. He founded CICD to work with municipalities and developers to provide affordable housing in communities of Caribbean descent.
Carlene O-Garro
Owner of Delectable Desires Pastries, where she makes gourmet baked goods from scratch, specializing in special event cakes.
Kamaal Jarrett
Founder of Hillside Harvest, a condiment company making hot sauces and marinades inspired by Caribbean flavors.
Omo Moses
Founder of MathTalk PBC, a community-focused education technology company that aims to increase early math skills, especially among children of color.
Florence Furaha
Co-founder and CEO of Meetcaregivers, a home healthcare business that connects families with pre-screened and qualified caregivers for their elders.
Michele Corton-Brown
Board president and former CEO of Quality Interactions, an e-learning platform that provides cultural competency training for professionals in healthcare and other sectors.
Tatts Day Care Centers
A family-owned business that provides quality childcare services. Founded by African-American nurse Bessie Tartt Wilson in 1946, the company is now run by second, third, and fourth generation family members, Mary L. Reed (President), Wanda Geer (CEO), Ken Reed (COO), Nidia Wright Adjety (VP).
Malia Lazu
An award winning, tenured strategist in diversity & inclusion. She founded The Lazu Group to bring a new approach to DEI that helps people forge better connections, resulting in happier individuals and healthier companies.
Dr. Tariana V. Little
Co-founder and CEO of EmVision Productions. She developed the Social Impact Storytelling™ framework that helps businesses and organizations convey their value and values.
Cassandria Campbell
Co-founder of Fresh Food Generation, a restaurant, food truck and catering business serving on-the-go real foods. The company sources ingredients from local farms and prepares meals inspired by Latin American and Caribbean cuisine.
JC Burton
Founder and CEO of Maven Construction, a general contracting firm that provides construction management services, while focusing on hiring diverse workers and subcontractors.
Teresa Maynard
A community activist and the founder of Sweet Teez Bakery, a nut-free bakery located in Commonwealth Kitchen in Dorchester.
Patricia Spence
CEO of the Urban Farming Institute, located at the historic Fowler Clark Epstein Farm in Mattapan. It provides farmer training, creates green collar jobs and engages urban communities in building a healthy, local food system.